The factors which affect the UK's climate

Question 1

explain how altitude affects the UK’s climate

Answer 1

• the sun’s rays are made up of visible UV radiation, this UV radiation cannot heat the gases of the atmosphere efficiently.
• it can, however heat the Earth’s surface. The surface absorbs the UV radiation and then releases heat in the form of invisible infra-red radiation
• this infra-red radiation can heat up the atmosphere
• as the altitude increases the air becomes thinner and less able to hold onto heat
• this is why for every 100m you climb in height you lose 1 degree celcisus
• this means higher mountainous areas are colder than lower areas next to the sea

Question 2

explain how distance from the sea affects the UK’s climate

Answer 2

• the sun’s rays only reach the upper layers of the land. In summer this means that the land is heated quickly
• because the sea is a vast area of liquid the sun’s rays are able to penetrate deeper into it. Therefore it takes longer to heat up the sea compared to land
• at the end of summer the land quickly loses the heat it gained in the summer. Because the sea is heated to a greater depth, it is now at its highest temperature
• this means the sea is warmer than inland areas during the winter